It’s the birthday of Chiropractic! Plus, a few cool facts about your spine

Have you ever had a moment lying on the Chiro’s table when you stop to wonder – how did I get here?

Not like, where did I park my magic carpet?

But, what’s the story of Chiropractic? How did this awesomely effective therapy come to be?

If so, this is the article for you!

This month marks the 120th anniversary of chiropractic care. And we wanted to take the opportunity to pay tribute to our history.

(But not in a boring way, promise!)

We’ll keep it interesting with a smattering of cool facts you didn’t know about your spine & body, as well as how Chiro works.

How long have people been adjusting spines?

Therapeutic spinal manipulation has existed for over 2500 years, though they didn’t call it ‘Chiropractic’ in Ancient Greece. It was simply acknowledged as a remarkable way to produce positive change in the body.

Socrates (469-399 B.C.) advised, “If you would seek health, look first to the spine.”

Hippocrates (470-357 B.C.) made similar recommendations, saying “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is requisite for many diseases.” He went on to invent a mechanism called “the rack”, used to stretch the spine (luckily for you, we opted for modern drop-piece tables. Though it would be a fun talking point in clinic!).

Later, Claudius Galen (130-202 A.D.) discovered the relationship between the nervous system, spine and wellbeing. He became known as the “Prince of Physicians” after he cured a prominent Roman scholar of right hand paralysis by aligning his neck. Galen wrote, “Look to the nervous system as the key to maximum health.” Amen, Galen!

When did Chiropractic officially come into existence?

Back in the good ole days – 1895 – a man called Daniel David Palmer inadvertently ‘cured’ Harvey Lillard’s deafness via spinal adjustment.

While we now know that Chiropractic isn’t a miraculous cure for disability & disease, it is miraculous for removing interference & restoring optimal function. This sometimes offers profound improvements in unexpected places.

Palmer called his therapy ‘Chiropractic’, which literally means ‘done by hand’.

His methods & teachings gained increasing popularity across the globe and today over 3 million people seek Chiropractic care each year in Australia alone.

Beyond your back: the modern chiropractor.

No longer is Chiropractic just about cracking backs. (In fact, many techniques don’t aim to ‘crack’ at all – this is a common misconception!)

At Spinecare, we’re not one-eyed about spines. We acknowledge that they’re attached to bodies, and those bodies need holistic care.

Wellness advice, solutions for families, ways to support your entire being are all part of the modern chiropractic service. We don’t ignore the foundations of good health – food, exercise, breathing, nature & relationships – rather, we honour their vital role in the healing process.

And with that we say, Happy Birthday Chiro! Thanks for helping us, help you.